Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB |
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M2HB machine gun |
Type | Heavy machine gun |
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Place of origin | United States |
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In service | 1921 M2HB from 1933–present |
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Used by | United States, and several others |
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Wars | World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Falklands War, Desert Storm, Somali Civil War, Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, South African Border War |
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Designed | 1918 |
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Produced | 1933–present (M2HB) |
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Mass | 38 kg (84 lb), 58 kg (128 lb) with tripod and T&E |
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Length | 1650 mm (65 in) |
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Barrel length | 1143 mm (45 in) |
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Cartridge | .50 BMG |
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Action | Short recoil-operated |
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Rate of fire | 450–600 rounds/min (M2HB) 750–850 rounds/min (M2 aircraft gun) |
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Muzzle velocity | 2,910 feet per second (M33 Ball) (887.1 m/s) |
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Feed system | Belt-fed (M2 or M9 links) |
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The M2 Machine Gun, or Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun is a heavy machine gun. It was nicknamed Ma Deuce by US troops or simply called "fifty-cal." due to its caliber.
John Moses Browning (1855–1926) of Ogden, Utah, was the inventor. His military arms were considered to be outstanding. German Field Marshal Hermann Göring said, "If the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) had the Browning .50-caliber, the Battle of Britain would have turned out differently".